Paralytic

Is taking a newspaper from the lounge considered theft also?

I've taken papers, crisps and biscuits (all for my own consumption - except the paper, I read, not ate, that) but would never consider taking champagne and glasses.

Its easy to says its all stealing, but most adults, even those with the most wayward of moral compass, will recognise that a line exists somewhere and that that act has most definitely crossed it.

PUCCI GALORE

Exactly. Newspapers will be slung out at the end of each day. Actually I would rather someone took a bag of crisps for later then open and not eat them. I bet the amount of waste is shocking.

Strictly speaking you should not take anything - but there is in my mind a difference between a newspaper and a bottle of Champagne (what's wrong with Perrier Jouet? - I love it) and two glasses.

LTN Phobia

I asked at T5 F lounge if I could take a particular newspaper once or twice (they weren't available at newsagents) late in the day and they were happy for me to take them, so I did.

I'm not sure if the lounge guardians would have said yes if I asked early in the day.

Cap'n Benj

Are you not meant to take the Papers/ Magazines?!

Ooops.

Phil the Flyer

That would explain why everytime I arrive in LHR T5 F lounge at around 1400hrs they're completely out of The Daily Mirror.

By the way, I just LOVE those Flamed Steak Flavour Kettle Ridge Crisps - although they don't accompany a glass of champagne very well.

Sixth Freedom

Me too! ^

They do go very well with a can of Coke.

Sixth Freedom

Now no doubt I will be fighting a losing battle here, but here goes anyway...

I do not believe that there is a difference between a bottle of fizz and a newspaper. My thinking is that both products are consumables that could reasonably be drunk by one person in a short time. So it is reasonable to take a bottle of fizz from the lounge.

Personally, I would draw the line at a bottle of spirits since not many people are able to drink one of these in the gap between checking in and departure.



I would argue that the incident would become theft if and only if it could be proven that the fizz was being taken to somebody not otherwise entitled to consume it. I am not saying that the person was not stealing, but absent further evidence there are good reasons (see this post and my previous post 40) why she should not be stealing. By the same token taking a newspaper for someone not entitled to it would also be stealing.

Paralytic

I once tried to steal one of the lounge dragons, but one of the others noticed and told me to put her down.

Not sure she'd have fitted in the overhead locker anyway.

T8191

I'll stick my head above the parapet, and simply avoid the pejorative term "theft".

The things [whatever they are] are in the Lounges for the users of the Lounges.
They are not free gifts to tuck into your carry-on.

You get fed on the bloody aircraft, and I assume nobody here is too poor or lazy to buy their own newspaper of choice. I do find the attitude of some folks on FT quite bizarre ... and slightly distasteful.

Harrumph. So there!

HilFly

I always take them with me to finish reading / do the puzzles. I had always assumed that they were provided for that reason - one paper for the whole journey rather than paper 1 at lounge 1, paper 2 on board flight 1, paper 3 at lounge 2, paper 4 on board flight 2, etc.

Apart from anything else, I don't want to read someone's second hand newspaper. I want a nice clean one, unsullied by grubby hands.

It's not that long ago that folks were complaining about guests leaving newspapers lying around the lounge rather than throwing them away!

T8191

You are a delicate flower.

Can you afford your own newspaper? They sell them in the Concourse, where the tacky Public congregate.

Cap'n Benj

Exactly, I'm not clean freak by any means, I wouldn't be keen on reading a 3rd hand newspaper or Magazine though, esp where people have likely been munching on a bacon roll or bag of kettle chips!

I really thought they were there to take with you. My wife always takes a Good Housekeeping/ Harpers Bazaar (or whatever it iis) etc that she reads over the course of the flight and a few days on arrival!

Sixth Freedom

Now I am playing Devil's advocate here to some extent. But I would argue the reverse.

I would have no qualms taking a bottle of wine out of the lounge and hiding it in so doing provided that it was for entirely legitimate purposes.



There is no reason that a lounge guest should be aware that she is not entitled to take a bottle of champagne out. Where are the signs saying that the fizz is for consumption in the lounge only?

However knowing that many people are meek and timid and err on the side of caution, and that the side of caution would almost surely say "you cannot take it out", I would suggest that asking will nearly certainly result in a no. This would in fact also put the dragon into a difficult position as she would be declining what may be a passenger's perfectly lawful request.

Paralytic

A few years ago, when meals were removed from domsetic flights, BA put signs up, actively encouraging me to take food from the lounge to eat on the aircraft.

I've not seen a sign telling me to stop, so I'm not doing anything wrong (so long as I eat the newspaper too).

So there!

Phil the Flyer

SF - As much as I enjoy your posts I fear I will be the first of many who fundamentally disagree with you.